Internal Affairs

The Chelsea Police Department is committed to providing the best service possible. Citizen comments are essential if we are to succeed in this goal. If you have any questions about any specific action taken by us, or about how we operate, or if you have a recommendation on how we can improve, please contact Lt. Brian Dunn at Chelsea Police Headquarters, 19 Park Street, Chelsea MA 02150, telephone 617-466-4847.

Commending Exceptional Performance

The best way to commend the actions of a Chelsea Police employee is to write a brief letter describing the incident and the actions you think were exceptional. Information such as date, time, and location will help identify the employee if you do not know his or her name. If you choose not to write, you may ask to speak with the individual’s supervisor and make a verbal recommendation.

Commendations received by the Chief are forwarded to the employee with a copy placed in his or her personnel file. Although our employees do not expect to be thanked for everything they do, recognition of exceptional service is always appreciated. This kind of feedback helps us to know if we are doing a good job.

Making an Inquiry or Complaint

An inquiry or complaint can be made by letter, telephone, or in person. Any police department employee whose duties involve public contact may accept an initial inquiry or complaint against personnel, procedures, or policies. If the inquiry or complaint is about personnel, you should contact the employee’s shift or unit commander. If the employee’s commander is not available, you may contact the on-duty supervisor. The supervisor will ensure that your inquiry or complaint is directed to the proper authority.

If your inquiry or complaint appears to be based on a misunderstanding or lack of knowledge of acceptable or desired conduct, procedures, or practices, the police department employee may offer an explanation. If you are not satisfied with their explanation, you may insist on speaking with the employee’s supervisor. Please be prepared to provide the date, time, and location of the event; the names of the police department employees involved (if known); and the name, address, and telephone number of any possible witnesses.

Investigative Procedure

Once your inquiry or complaint is received, it will be thoroughly investigated by a person designated by the Chief of Police. The investigation will usually include a review of all applicable reports, policies and procedures, examination of any evidence or medical records, and interviews with all parties and witnesses. A simple inquiry might take only a day to complete, while a complex complaint might take two or three months to investigate and review.

The Chief of Police reviews every inquiry and complaint. If the Chief determines that an employee violated the department policies or procedures, appropriate corrective action is taken. The Chief’s review will also include looking for ways to improve policies, procedures, and training.

The Chief of Police will review the complaint and findings. This review is to assure that the investigations was handled thoroughly and objectively.

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Welcome to Chelsea!

Chelsea was named one of 35 cities that received funding from the Bloomberg Mayor’s Challenge for the Chelsea Hub initiative. Led by the Chelsea Police Department, the Hub is a weekly gathering of service providers that connects high-risk individuals to the help they need.

People often face more than one reason why they are at risk of harm, and the Chelsea Hub provides them with a team that can address those challenges collaboratively and more effectively. This video captures the essence of this initiative and demonstrates our collective efforts of community safety and well-being for everyone. We are proud to share it with you and grateful for our partners at EmVision for bringing it to life.